A class-action lawsuit alleging the drug maker discriminated against thousands of female sales reps is headed to trial next year after a federal court judge denied the drugmaker’s motion for a partial summary judgement on Tuesday.

The suit was filed in 2004 by 19 current or former female reps, and was certified as a class action representing 5,600 female employees. They allege Novartis subjected them to sexual discrimination in pay, job evaluations, promotional opportunities and pregnancy-related matters, along with sexual harassment and retaliation (back story).

Vincent Fitzpatrick, an attorney for Novartis, could not be reached for comment. Steven Wittels, an attorney for the plaintiffs, told The Star-Ledger of New Jersey that a trial was a long time coming. “They (the female plaintiffs) waited a long time to get their day in court,” he said.

You can see one of the plaintiffs, Holly Waters, in this excerpt from a newscast about discrimination on the job: